Government to Conduct On-Site Inspections for Establishing the 'Hajun Law'

Goimmok

[Asia Economy Reporter Chunhee Lee] The government, local governments, and the Korea Transportation Safety Authority will conduct on-site inspections to establish the 'Hajun Act' (Revised Parking Lot Act), which mandates the installation of anti-slip facilities in sloped parking lots.

On the 8th, the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport announced that it will conduct joint on-site inspections with local governments and the Korea Transportation Safety Authority to prevent vehicle slip accidents in sloped parking lots.

In October 2017, an incident occurred where a vehicle parked in a sloped parking lot struck and killed Choi Hajun (then 5 years old). Despite the sloped parking lot, the driver left the transmission gear in Drive (D) instead of Park (P) when parking, causing the vehicle to roll down the slope and hit Choi. Since then, Choi’s parents and others have campaigned for amendments to the Parking Lot Act. Eventually, in December last year, the revised Parking Lot Act mandating the installation of anti-slip facilities such as wheel chocks and caution signs in sloped parking lots was passed by the National Assembly.

Accordingly, from the 25th of last month, newly constructed sloped parking lots must immediately install anti-slip facilities. However, existing sloped parking lots have been granted a grace period until December 26 of this year.

The authorities have launched this on-site inspection to assess the management status and progress of local governments regarding existing sloped parking lots and to ensure prompt safety improvements. Vulnerable areas such as steep slopes and slopes near schools are the primary inspection targets.

The Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport plans to conduct monthly on-site inspections of vulnerable areas jointly with local governments and the Korea Transportation Safety Authority and urges parking lot managers to take proactive measures. Each city, county, and district will also conduct self-inspections regarding the installation and management status of anti-slip facilities and reinforcement plans for sloped parking lots within their jurisdictions.

To expedite facility improvements, the Ministry will hold regional inspection meetings and joint on-site inspections to prioritize completing improvements in public parking lots by the end of October. Private parking lots are also expected to complete early facility upgrades before the December application deadline.

Additionally, in cooperation with local governments and the National Police Agency, efforts will be made to educate drivers to thoroughly implement safety measures such as applying parking brakes, installing wheel chocks, and turning the steering wheel. Safety education for parking lot managers will also be conducted.

Oh Myung-so, Director General of Comprehensive Transportation Policy at the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport, stated, "We will carefully inspect and manage the field together with local governments and the Korea Transportation Safety Authority to ensure the early establishment of the system. We ask drivers to cooperate with safety measures such as always applying the parking brake and turning the steering wheel toward the curb, with the mindset that a moment of attention and caution can protect their beloved family and neighbors."